David Miedzianik

David Miedzianik
Born July 1956 (age 62)
Rotherham, England
Language English
Nationality English
Citizenship United Kingdom
Notable works My Autobiography

David C. Miedzianik (pronounced "med-gen-nick", born July 1956) is an English autistic poet and writer. He has been compared to the autistic author Jonathan Mitchell in the respect that his writings portray autism in a negative light. Most of his poems focus on social difficulties that he experiences.[1] He is unemployed, but writes about how he wants to work and find love. Miedzianik writes about specific examples pertaining to those desires.

Miedzianik has written an autobiography titled My Autobiography. He has been described as roaming from subject to subject, but usually introduces material to the reader with a proper explanation. Other topics he writes about besides his loneliness and datelessness are his unusual behavior. Francesca Happé has described Miedzanik’s writing as the "least autistic" from the authors that he was compared to including Temple Grandin, as he demonstrated the greatest awareness of his limitations and how others perceived him.[2] Peter Hobson has described him as one of the most thoughtful and linguistically gifted autistic writers. Hobson has described Miedzianik’s writings about his solitude as repetitive and disjointed, and also notes his awareness of his own solitude.[3]

He was noted for portraying autism through an autistic person's perspective. In his poem "The Mega-Chip Men" from 1997, he mocks the idea that autistics cannot think for themselves, comparing them to computers that can think independently. He also implies that they can work relentlessly. In another poem "Miracles Don't Happen", he talks about how he claims that his own country won't accept him.[4]

The British songwriter Ray Hearne once wrote a song about Miedzianik’s life in 1989, titled Song for David.[5] Additionally, the British metal band Solitary wrote a song named Twisted in 1998, which was dedicated to Miedzianik. The band stated "Twisted was written for and inspired by David Miedzianik by his and others continued fight against autism."[1][6]

Bibliography

  • My Autobiography (1986, Nottingham University Childhood Developmental Unit; reissued in US 1993, Autism Society of North Carolina)
  • I Hope Some Lass Will Want Me After Reading All This (1987, Nottingham University Childhood Developmental Unit)
  • Taking the Load off My Mind (1994, Nottingham University Childhood Developmental Unit)
  • Now All I've Got Left is Myself (1997, Nottingham University Childhood Developmental Unit)

References

  1. 1 2 Osborne, Lawrence (2002). American Normal the Hidden World of Asperger Syndrome. New York, NY: Lawrence Osborne. ISBN 0387218076.
  2. ↑ Frith, ed. by Uta (1991). Autism and Asperger syndrome (Repr. ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052138608X.
  3. ↑ Hobson, R. Peter (1995). Autism and the development of mind (Paperback reprint. ed.). Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum. ISBN 0863772390.
  4. ↑ Roy *, Emil; Casanova, Manuel F.; Jerath, Vandna (March 2004). "Autistic poetry as therapy". Journal of Poetry Therapy. 17 (1): 33–38. doi:10.1080/08893670410001698505.
  5. ↑ Hawkins, Ernie (2010). "Song for David.(SO! TRACK 15 CD)(Brief article)". Sing Out Corporation. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Solitary - Nothing Changes". Discogs. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
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